Posted by Teresa on July 28, 2009 under Landlord and Tenant FAQs | 
Determining how much rent to charge is not easy. How do you know what your market will bear? Since your goal as a landlord is to make a profit on your rental properties, you want to get as much as possible, right?
Setting rent too low will decrease your chance to make a profit. But setting it too high could chase tenants away—and an unleased property won’t make you any profit, either! You want to be like Goldilocks when setting rent: not too high, not too low—you want to set it so that it’s just right!
Some easy ways to determine what your local rental market will bear is to ask real estate agents, read the local advertisements, or look at Craigslist.com. You can also find out what the Fair Market Rent for your area is.
What is Fair Market Rent?
Fair Market Rent refers to the amount of money a property will lease for. It is determined by a number of variable factors, such as location, local economic conditions, market need, and the community cost of living.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses Fair Market Rent (FMR) values to determine the eligibility of rental housing units for housing assistance, known as Section 8 payments. The values are designed to be high enough to ensure an adequate supply of rental units, but low enough to serve as many families as possible.
Landlords can use FMR to determine the amount to charge for a rental unit. Setting rent at or slightly below FMR is smart because a fair rent will draw tenants—who usually know the market they live in and will not be willing to pay above-market rents.
Fair market rents also indicate whether a rental market is appreciating or declining in value, which can help prospective income property owners decide where to invest.
HUD publishes the Fair Market Rents for every metropolitan area in the United States, which is accessible on their website: http://www.huduser.org.
Landlords can also check out rentometer.com, which uses a proprietary algorithm to tell you if the rent you are charging for a property is too low, way too high, or reasonable. Just enter the address, number of bedrooms, and rent you are considering, and you’ll get an idea of what other units in the neighborhood are renting for.
Doing your homework before setting the rent for your rental property will help ensure both profits and tenants!
Posted by Teresa on July 21, 2009 under Landlord and Tenant FAQs, Landlord Tips |
Now that we’re in the middle of summer, some of you might be wondering how to handle taking care of the outside of your rental property. Whose responsibility is it to mow the lawn and trim the shrubs? Landlord or tenant?
Landlord practices are as varied as the colors of summer flowers. If your current procedure works, great! If not, here are some options you can explore, according to our informal survey of landlords:
Multi-unit building: Most agree it’s up to the landlord to maintain the common areas in an apartment complex.
Duplex: Our poll shows a majority requiring the tenants to keep up the lawn. Each tenant can be responsible for their half of a side-by-side; two-story tenants can take care of either the front yard or back yard.
Single Family Residences: These lawns are the tenant’s responsibility in almost all cases. Some landlords will supply the lawn mower (but certainly not the gas!). Be aware of two important facts: 1. You are incurring liability if you do supply a lawn mower for tenant’s use; and 2. If it’s a cheap one—it will break down.
Hiring a Service: Lots of landlords, especially those with multiple properties, hire a landscaping and lawn service to take away the hassle of mowing lawns or making sure their tenants do. Most add the cost into the rent.
Landlords Who Mow: Many landlords replied that they mow their own lawns, either because that’s how it’s done in their area, or because it gives them an opportunity to check on their properties. Good idea! While it could be a major time consumer for you, it could make things easier overall—no issues with enforcing your rules!
Lease Language: If you expect your tenants to mow their own lawns, you must say so in your lease agreement. You can include language stating that if the tenant fails to keep the lawn mowed according to your wishes, you reserve the right to hire a professional and charge it to the tenant.
Whether you mow your tenant’s lawn or require them to do so, landscape maintenance is constant issue–and can be a major headache–for most landlords.
For more landlord resources, including forms and information on
tenant screening, turn to
E-Renter.com. You’ll know that you have the best possible tenants when you
prescreen tenants.
Posted by Teresa on July 17, 2009 under Eviction, Landlord Tips, Tenant Screening & Background Checks |
Whether you’re an experienced landlord, or a “newbie,” you probably have your share of missteps made in your rental property business. And while some landlords make the same mistakes over and over again, you don’t have to be that guy or gal.
We’ve rounded up a list of common landlord mistakes so you can avoid them!
1. Not treating it like a business. Because it is! You are in the property rental business to make money, not to house the world at your expense. Establish and follow procedures, open separate bank accounts, keep meticulous records, get professional help when necessary, and project a professional demeanor to your tenants. As one landlord put it, “If you look and sound like you’re not serious, you won’t be taken seriously.”
2. Being too lenient on rent collection. Your tenants signed an agreement to pay you on a certain date. Don’t allow late or partial rent, or they will know you’re not serious about the due date. See mistake #1.
3. Failure to prescreen tenants. Don’t be in a hurry to fill a vacancy, or you could end up with an unreliable tenant—which is a much bigger problem than an empty unit. Have your employment checks, background checks and credit checks in hand before you sign a lease with any tenant.
4. Lack of understanding about operating expenses. There is more to owning rental property than collecting rent and paying the basics: principle, interest, taxes, and insurance. If you don’t have sufficient resources to cover regular expenses (maintenance, advertising, repairs) PLUS accessible funds to cover the occasional (but inevitable) major repairs, you are setting yourself up for failure.
5. Trying to do everything yourself. If you have only one or two properties to manage, you might be able to handle rent collection and upkeep. Still, you might need a handyman for maintenance. But if you have more than three rental properties, consider hiring a property management company for tenant screening and placement, upkeep, rent collection, maintenance, etc. Ask yourself what your time is worth. You may find the expense of a management company is well worth your freedom from stress.
6. Not having an exit strategy. Before you buy an income property, do your homework—including how easy or difficult it will be to sell when you need or want to. You never know when you’ll want out of a rental property, but the likelihood is that you will sell eventually.
7. Not evicting non-paying tenants immediately. Even if you properly screen tenants, anything can happen. If your tenants break the rental agreement by not paying on time, you can—and should—take the proper legal steps for eviction. See mistakes #1 and #2.
8. Being a hands-off landlord. Although you may have a property management company, no one will care about your rental properties like you do. At the very least, inspect your properties on a regular basis and stay in touch with your tenants. You’ll probably prevent a lot of damage and trouble just by following this simple step.
Posted by Teresa on July 14, 2009 under Landlord Tips, Tenant Credit Checks, Tenant Screening & Background Checks |
In a college town, chances are you could fill your rental properties with students if you chose to. What are the advantages and disadvantages of leasing to college students? What should you look out for?
Students can be good tenants, or bad tenants—just like the rest of the population. They are also willing to pay top dollar in many cases. If you are clear with college students and let them know your expectations, you can be a successful college student landlord!
Since the new school year is coming up quickly, here are some Dos and Don’ts for considering student tenants:
1. Do make sure you have an iron-clad lease. Have a lease or real estate attorney draw it up for you.
2. Do specify that each individual tenant is responsible for the entire rent. Then, if one moves out, the remaining roommates cannot claim they don’t that person’s share.
3. Do remember that the security deposit won’t cover the potential damage that can be done to your property. Make sure the lease assigns responsibility for damages and losses.
4. Do consider the extra maintenance or repair costs when establishing your rent. Repainting, and replacing carpet and more often, as well as repairing damages, should be considered standard operating procedure.
5. Do specify noise restrictions in the lease. College students like to party, and even small gatherings can become out-of-control in no time at all. Let your prospective student-tenants know that if the police are called to your property due to noise complaints, it is grounds for eviction.
6. Don’t allow “squatters.” If your tenants want to have overnight guests, enforce a 7-day (or however many you deem reasonable) limit.
7. Do specify lease dates: is the lease period for the school year or for a 12-month period? Students might think “one year” means August – May! Be sure the tenant knows the number of months they are responsible for paying rent.
8. Don’t allow anyone who is not on the lease to live in the rental unit. Period. You have no protection against their actions if they have no binding lease agreement with you.
9. Do prescreen all applicants to verify employment history, criminal history, and credit history.
10. Don’t allow the students alone to sign the lease. Require co-signers, such as their parents, and conduct proper credit screening on co-signers, as well—before you offer to lease your property.
11. Don’t hesitate to call the co-signers/parents at the first sign of trouble.
12. Do keep the communication open with your tenants—if they’re late, follow up immediately, from day one, to break bad habits. And, if they’re respectful, clean, and quiet (hey, it could happen!), let them know you appreciate it.
13. Do check your local zoning laws for maximum number of residents allowed in a housing unit—but if you follow suggestion #1, your lawyer will know for sure!
Posted by Teresa on July 10, 2009 under Landlord and Tenant FAQs, Tenant Credit Checks, Tenant Screening & Background Checks |
From time to time, we get a handful of rental property-related questions that concern many landlords—but don’t fall neatly into any category. We hope you find one or two that you’ve been wondering about, too!
Q: My rental unit has a jetted tub. If it breaks, am I responsible for repairing it—or replacing it with the same type tub?
A: You might want to consider adding a clause in your lease agreement that states the jetted tub is as is; the tub itself will be maintained for bathing purposes; however, if the jets malfunction, they will be repaired at your discretion only.
Q: I live in a city where only the owner of the property can be billed for the water and sewer service. How can I handle this with my tenants? I’m afraid they’ll run up the water bill, since they’re not paying it.
A: Your lease can state that you will pay for a certain amount of the water and sewer, based on average rates in your area. The lease can require the tenant to pay anything above that amount, to be included with the following month’s rent.
Q: Is it necessary to prescreen tenant applicants if they were referred by a good friend of mine?
A: Not only is it necessary, it is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your other tenants and the neighborhood residents. You need the peace of mind that a professional credit and background check will bring you. But just as important, if you don’t follow consistent procedures for each applicant, you could be accused of discrimination. Apply the same rules and follow the same procedures on every single tenant applicant—no matter who recommends them!
Q: What’s the absolute most effective way to advertise my for lease property?
A: Landlords we talk to say that good signs in the yard or window, visible from the street, plus an ad with photos on Craigslist.com, are the two best ways to advertise. Do beware of scams on Craigslist—read the warnings posted on the site and don’t allow anyone you have not personally met send you a check to hold a rental—many scammers operate like this.
Q: What should I do to make my rental property appealing to high-quality tenants?
A: Give your rental the best curb appeal possible! Get rid of unsightly trash, hide the trash cans, trim shrubs and low-hanging branches, and plant some new flowers. Repair any broken windows or screens, and paint the trim if it’s needed. A bright color for the front door is a great way to make the property pop!
Q: How do I know when it’s time to hire a property management company?
A: If you no longer enjoy or have the time to spend on property maintenance, dealing with tenant questions and problems, and finding new tenants, you should research property managers. Base your decision on the out-of-pocket expense; if you decide your time and peace of mind is worth more than what you’ll pay the management company, give it a try!
Posted by Teresa on July 8, 2009 under Landlord Tips, Marketing for Landlords |
Staying on top of the landlord game can be tough. Sometimes it helps to know just where to get a question answered, or to check out a contractor, or even find good used appliances! Here is a wrap up of some websites you may find helpful:
Zilpy is a address-based rental facts site. Zilpy for Landlords helps landlords determine how much a property can rent for simply by plugging in its address. Zilpy generates comparable rents, as well as demographic information about the neighborhood and city. Figures include population, median household income, education and ethnicity, and crime rate.
RealEstateMarketingBlog.org is targeted more toward real estate agents, but many of its insights are applicable to landlords, too. Especially if you manage several properties, REMB’s advertising and social media tips can be translated for renting, rather than selling, homes. From Search Engine Optimization to email marketing, you’re sure to find useful information to help you stay competitive in today’s rental market.
Craigslist.org is arguably the web’s largest classified ads site. There is a lot to like about craigslist! All classified ads are free, photos can be uploaded at no charge, and it’s extremely popular! Craigslist is organized by city; just check out the main website to see if your town has a local craigslist site. Then follow the instructions to post your “For Lease” ads. And if you need to replace appliances in your rental unit, craigslist is a great resource!
Angie’s List is a popular review site for contractors, handymen, plumbers, and other service providers. Angie’s list is a paid, members-only site. For a monthly fee, you can check out unbiased reviews by other members. Contractors are not allowed to pay to be featured in any way. If there are no reviews for your city, you can join free for a year and help build the list of reviews in your area.
Bankrate.com is chock full of mortgage, CD, credit card, and loan rates, along with articles covering current happenings in the financial world. There are even advice columns covering small business, retirement planning, financial literacy, and debt management. It’s always good to know what’s happening in the credit and mortgage industry—and bankrate.com is a good place to keep up!
BiggerPockets is an online community for real estate investors and professionals. It offers groups, networking, and information, and membership is free. You can post questions in the forums and search by keywords to see if your question has already been answered. Handy tips, advice, and a place for landlords to talk to other landlords make BiggerPockets a lively online community.
For more landlord resources, including forms and information on
tenant screening, turn to
E-Renter.com. You’ll know that you have the best possible tenants when you
prescreen tenants.
Posted by Teresa on June 30, 2009 under Landlord and Tenant FAQs, Landlord Tips |
Every year, carbon monoxide poisoning kills 500 people.* Most could have been saved with a properly working carbon monoxide detector. If you are a landlord, your state may require carbon monoxide detectors to be installed and maintained in your rental units. But keeping your tenants safe is the right thing to do, whether or not you are required by law to install detectors.
What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels: oil, natural gas, wood, coal, and gasoline. In homes, the major sources of CO are fossil fuel burning furnaces, boilers, water heaters and fireplaces.
How can you detect carbon monoxide? This is the problem. You can’t. Carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless. It is colorless, and unlike other dangerous emissions, CO does not irritate the skin, eyes, or nose.
Is carbon monoxide dangerous? Yes! It is highly toxic, and CO poisoning can be fatal.
What are the warning signs of CO poisoning? Headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and nausea. These symptoms are often mistaken for the flu.
What should one do if CO poisoning is suspected? Open all windows, call the Fire Department and remove all people and animals from the home.
What precautions should a landlord take?
1. Have furnaces, fireplaces, chimneys, and venting systems inspected annually.
2. Properly install and periodically inspect CO detectors. All detectors have test buttons.
3. Replace batteries in battery-powered detectors. twice a year—when clocks are changed for daylight savings time.
4. Regularly check all gas-fired appliances for leaks.
5. Instruct your tenants to notify you immediately if they detect any odors that indicate leaks.
6. Never allow tenants to use the range or oven for heat or to cook with charcoal grills inside the home or garage.
7. Never paint over detectors.
8. Replace detectors when recommended by the manufacturer. Keep instruction manuals and record the date purchased and installed. Record replacement dates in your annual inspection/maintenance logs.
What types of carbon monoxide detectors are available? Some detectors run on batteries, allowing them to be placed wherever needed. Others are hard-wired with battery backups, and the third type plug into power outlets. Some have talking alarms, while others have digital displays.
Where are CO detectors installed? CO detectors should be placed five feet or more above the floor, because CO is lighter than air. They may go on the ceiling, as well. CO detectors should not be installed near a fireplace or gas-fired appliance, such as a water heater. Each floor should have at least one CO detector, ideally near sleeping areas.
Landlords are responsible for keeping their rental units habitable and safe. One easy way to do so, which may be required in your state, is to install and properly maintain carbon monoxide detectors in all your rental properties!
*Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 299, No. 9.
For more landlord resources, including forms and information on
tenant screening, turn to
E-Renter.com. You’ll know that you have the best possible tenants when you
prescreen tenants.
Posted by Teresa on June 24, 2009 under Landlord Tips |
You purchased your rental properties in order to make a profit, right? And, you’re protecting those invested dollars by keeping your properties in great condition. But to leverage the properties for maximum profit, you need to upgrade periodically, as well.
When considering upgrades to your rental units, don’t look at them as expenses; upgrades can potentially earn you several times their expense in profits. Just be sure to compare the cost of the upgrade with the amount of increased rent to see how long that will take.
If you’re considering upgrades, here are some guidelines to help you increase the value—and therefore, the monthly rent—of your investment property:
1. Maximize the view: If you can add a window to reveal a mountain, water, park, or forest view, do so! Your unit will instantly increase in value.
2. Increase storage: Tenants love closet space, built-in shelves, and built-in bookcases. Fill in dead space areas with additional storage and watch tenants fall in love.
3. Find outdoor living space: Add a patio or deck to give your tenants the outdoor living areas that everyone wants now.
4. Upgrade fixtures: Look at your rental property through a tenant’s eyes: are the light fixtures and switch plates tired and outdated? Faucets chipped and tarnished? Carpet stained and out of style? Adding fresh carpets, tile, molding, and paint will delight potential tenants.
5. Increase energy efficiency: Keep tenants toasty warm and maximize curb appeal by upgrading windows and patio doors. French doors and new windows instantly increase value.
6. Let there be light: The amount of natural light directly affects the value of your rental unit. If you enlarge or add windows or skylights to bring in more light, you will increase value; therefore, you can increase the rent and see a return on your investment.
7. Replace worn out appliances: A new dishwasher or a microwave/exhaust hood combination are simple upgrades that don’t cost thousands of dollars—and are seen as a real treat by prospective tenants.
Remember, if you want high-quality tenants, you must give them what they’re looking for. If they want a nice place for their family to live, they will pay a premium for it. Spending money now will increase your income and cash flow in the future!
For more landlord resources, including forms and information on
tenant screening, turn to
E-Renter.com. You’ll know that you have the best possible tenants when you
prescreen tenants.
Posted by Teresa on June 18, 2009 under Fair Housing Act, Screening and Background Checks, Tenant Credit Checks, Tenant Screening & Background Checks |
What are your risks when considering applicants for your rental property? Even in these tough times, you cannot approve every applicant. It’s important to know your parameters when you must reject a potential tenant.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discriminating against tenants on the basis of race, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Some states have laws making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or marital status.
Of course there are legitimate reasons to turn down an applicant. Just be sure to document your process thoroughly and to be fair and consistent with each applicant—so you are well prepared if you’re ever accused of discrimination.
Here are some legitimate reasons to turn down a rental applicant:
Income level: It is legal to use a prospective tenant’s income as a basis to approve or reject their application. Be sure to check the income of all tenants on the application to avoid any potential problems.
Bad Credit History: Prior bankruptcies or low credit score are objective criteria for rejecting tenants.
Exceeding Occupancy: You do not have to rent to a family of six applying to rent your one-bedroom apartment.
Inadequate Rental History: You may require a reasonable number of positive rental references, and reject an applicant based on a negative reference from a previous landlord.
Past Eviction: If an applicant has ever been evicted, you may reject the application. However, if he or she won an eviction lawsuit brought by a previous landlord, you cannot hold the lawsuit against them.
Criminal Record: If an applicant has been convicted of a crime, it is probably enough reason to reject their application. Take care, however, to make a distinction between an arrest and a conviction.
Pets: If you do not allow pets in your rental unit, you may reject a pet-owning applicant. However, be aware of how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) views therapy pets. You may have to make an exception to your no-pet rule to accommodate a disabled tenant.
As always, staying consistent with procedures is extremely important—especially when considering whom to approve or reject as tenants. Keep your paperwork in tip-top shape, and follow the same process with each applicant. Favoring any person or type of person over another is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Your best practice is to run credit and background checks on each applicant. Screening tenants is quick, easy, and inexpensive—and it could potentially save you thousands in legal fees. Use the facts—just the facts—to determine whether or not you approve an applicant.
Posted by Teresa on June 12, 2009 under Landlord Paperwork and Forms, Landlord Tenant Lawsuits |
Lead-based paint can be a real problem for owners of older properties. Although lead in paint was banned in 1978, it could still present in older rental units. The paint itself is not a health hazard until it cracks, peels, or turns to chalk with age. And sanding or scraping it releases lead dust, which is a serious health hazard, especially to young children.
As a rental property owner, you should be aware of lead paint dangers and required disclosures. Most states have lead hazard reduction laws in place; some require testing and careful maintenance.
The federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 covers dwellings built before lead paint was banned in 1978 and requires rental housing owners or their property managers to notify tenants that the property may have lead-based paint.
Under the federal law, property owners are not currently required to test for lead-based paint or to remove it; but you must disclose any known presence of lead-based paint and provide all tenants with copies of records pertaining to the presence of lead-based paint.
Landlords are also required to provide an information brochure prepared by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.” This brochure is available online or you can request printed brochures from the National Lead Information Clearinghouse at 800-424-5323.
Certain other dwellings are exempted from the federal law:
- Housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless there are children under age 6 living in the house)
- Short-term (100 days or less) rentals
- Certain university housing
- Studio or efficiency units
- Housing that has been inspected and certified “lead free”
You can always contact the EPA or your local health or environmental agencies for information specific to your area. If you are advised your property is exempt, get verification in writing for your records.
Keep a copy of your tenant’s signed disclosure form for three years. You only need to make the disclosure once, even if the tenant renews an existing lease.
If a landlord fails to follow the federal regulations, and a tenant does not receive required EPA or approved state disclosures, the owner or property manager may be subject to serious fines and penalties. The EPA and HUD are enforcing these regulations, so follow the laws and minimize your risk!
